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Donald D. Chapman
Donald D. Chapman, 71, of Eaton Rapids died Dec. 17, 1996, in Eaton Rapids.
Mr. Chapman was born July 31, 1925, in Battle Creek, the son of Howard and Arietta (Wood) Chapman. He served in the 1st Marine Division 736 Tank Battalion during World War II, from 1943-1946 at the Peleluie and Okinawa Campaigns. He was also a member of the VFW Post #565 in Battle Creek and past member of the VFW Post #1283 in Eaton Rapids and was an accomplished musician.
He is survived by his wife, Dora; a daughter, Annette Cooper of Eaton Rapids; a son, Stephen Chapman of Eaton Rapids; mother, Arletta Chapman of Battle Creek; grandson, William Gabriel Cooper of Lansing; step-grandchildren; Carrie, Jamie, and Andy; a brother, Carlton (Sandy) Chapman of Battle Creek; a sister-in-law, Norma Chapman of Battle Creek; a niece and 2 nephews, Deb, Arnold, and Kevin Chapman, all of Battle Creek.
He was preceded in death by his father, Howard, and brother, Roland. Services were Dec. 21 at the Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Laurence D. Chapman
Laurence D. Chapman, 66, of East Leroy died July 3, 1997, in his home.
Mr. Chapman was born Jan. 13, 1931, in Isabella County to Milo and Retha Mac Chapman. He was retired after working 28 years for the Federal Aviation Administration at Kellogg Airfield, worked for a short time at Wilcox-Gay in Charlotte, and he served two years in the US Army Signal Corps.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn (formerly of Charlotte); three daughters, Debra Collins of Grand Rapids, Cherie Betke of Battle Creek, and Denise Phillips of Homer; son, Marvin Chapman of Battle Creek; sisters, Myrna Eargood of Lansing, and Clara Chapman of Rosebush; brother, Willis Chapman of Mount Pleasant; 8 grandchildren; mother and father-in-law, Ruth and Alton Olmstead of Charlotte. He is preceded in death by his parents, Milo and Retha Chapman; sister, Shirley Kinsell; and brother, Roger.
Services were July 9 at the Spencer Funeral Home in Athens.
Francis E. Charles
Francis E. “Dude” Charles, 83, of Eaton Rapids died Aug. 9, 1997, at his residence.
Mr. Charles was born April 24, 1914, in Logansport, Ind., the son of Harry and Josephine (Houck) Charles. Dude was a retired Sales Representative for the Gerber Baby Food Co. retiring in 1976 with 34 years of service. He continued an additional 18 years with Independent Food Brokers. Mr. Charles was a member of the St. Peter Catholic Church of Eaton Rapids.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Charlotte; daughter, Patricia (Thomas) Swan of Duck Lake; 2 grandchildren; 3 great-grandsons; a brother, Walter Charles of Lenexa, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by 3 brothers, Robert, Harry, and George Charles; and 2 sisters, Regina Charles and Mary Jo Romack.
Burial Mass was Aug. 12 at St. Peter Church, Eaton Rapids, with the Rev. Fr. Ben Constantine.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Community Hospice, P.O. Box 636, Charlotte, Mich. 48813.
Eleanor (Stevens) Chuck
Eleanor Stevens Chuck, 80, of Houston, Texas, formerly of Olivet, Marshall, and Eaton Rapids, died Nov. 30, 1997, at her home.
Mrs. Chuck was born Dec. 12, 1916, in Eaton County, the daughter of Ray and Susan (Grant) Stevens. She was a graduate of Western Michigan State Teachers’ College and had taught school in Olivet, Marshall, and Eaton Rapids. She went to Venezuela in 1945 to teach in the American schools for the oil companies in 1949.
They were married in 1954 and lived in Venezuela until 1974, when Frank was transferred to Houston by Exxon Oil Co.
She is survived by her husband, Frank; one nephew, Dennis Stevens of Charlotte; and one sister-in-law, Katherine Stevens of Charlotte.
Services were held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Houston, Dec. 3, and graveside services were Dec. 5 in East Pleasant Place, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s Catholic School, 1801 Sage Road, Houston, Texas 77056.
Bernice M. Church
Bernice M. Church, 90, of Olivet died Sept. 24, 1997, at Hayes Green Beach Hospital in Charlotte where she was taken after being stricken at home.
Mrs. Church was born in Remus, the daughter of Parm and Lena (Roop) Whitcomb and had been an Olivet resident since 1935. She attended Charlotte High School, had taken a merchandising course in Lansing, where she later worked, and was a buyer for the J.W. Knapp Co. in Lansing. After she married Lawrence Church in 1929, she worked with him in the heating business in Alma. After moving to Olivet, she worked at the Wilcox-Gay Co. in Charlotte until the early 1940s when she and her husband started Premier Heating and Plumbing in Olivet. They later moved the business to Charlotte. In the early 1950s, they owned and operated the Econowash Laundry in Olivet, which was sold in 1969.
She was a member of the Olivet Congregational Church United Church of Christ and its Amy Storr-Emma Jo Circle, and served as a deaconess, chairperson of the trustees for four years, and chairman of the finance committee, and the Women’s Fellowship. She had currently served on the church council and the Olivet City Council for 20 years, had been a member of the Olivet Chamber of commerce, and the Olivet College Women’s Board, where she had served as finance chairperson. She was also a member of the VFW Post #2406 Auxiliary Maple City Chapter in Charlotte.
She is survived by one daughter, Patricia Buttrick of Olivet; one son-in-law, Arlie Dimond of Charlotte; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 1966; one daughter, Jean Dimond in 1980; one brother, William Whitcomb in 1966; and two grandsons, Kirk Buttrick and Robert Buttrick.
Services were Sept. 27 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel, Charlotte, with the Rev. Clark Hock officiating. Interment was in the Oakridge Cemetery, Marshall.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Olivet Congregational Church or Olivet college Women’s Board.
Leland C. Colburn
Leland Clarence Colburn, 89, of Bellevue died Feb. 23, 1997.
Mr. Colburn was born May 6, 1907, in Quaker City, Ohio, the son of Albert and Emma (Hall) Colburn. He had been a gauge repairman for General Motors for 28 years before retiring in 1974. He was a member of Wacousta #359 F&AM, the Olivet-Bellevue Chapter O.E.S., and UAW #652. He was a 32nd-degree Mason in Valley of Cambridge, Ohio, and attended the First Bellevue Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; three sons, James (Barbara) of Eagle, Milton of East Lansing, and Frederick (Mary) of Potterville; three daughters, Elma “Rusti” (Bill) Peters of Charlotte, Mabel “Mae” (Bob) Martin of Lansing, and Betty Bush of Lansing; 20 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; three stepsons, Eric Olmstead of Flint and Brad and Kurt Olmstead, both of Bellevue; one stepdaughter, Tamera Ford of Bellevue; 12 step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and one brother-in-law, Perry Cassella of Weirton, W.V.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 60 years, Edith in 1988; two sons, Albert in 1940 and Robert in 1985; and one daughter, Mary in 1930.
Services were Feb. 26 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with the Rev. Donald Francis and Wacousta Lodge #359 officiating. Interment will be in the Friends Cemetery, Quaker City, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wacousta Masonic Lodge #359.
Geraldine A. Cole
Geraldine A. Cole, 93, went to be with the Lord on July 7, 1997.
Mrs. Cole was born June 12, 1904 in Hillsdale County, the daughter of Wallace and Hattie (Bump) Petrie.
She is survived by 2 sons and 3 daughters, Louise Potter of Jackson, Albert (Marion) Cole of Eaton Rapids, Thelma Cozart of Leslie, Joan (Dale) Doxtader of Holt, and Frank Lynn Cole of Cedar Springs; 25 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Howard Petrie of Jonesville; sister, Bertha Wolever of Orleans; and several nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Wayne F. Cole; brother; 3 sisters; and 3 grandchildren.
Services were on July 11 at the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids, with Rev. Edward Lindsley officiating.
Loma Colombo
Loma Colombo, 76, of Charlotte died Dec. 18, 1996.
Ms. Colombo was born Feb. 15, 1920 in Rushing, Arizona, the daughter of William and Elosia (Harper) Hinesley. She served with the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps during World War II. She married Fred Leonard Colombo Sept. 25, 1943, in Joliet, Illinois. She was active in the Catholic Church for many years.
She is survived by her husband, Fred; four daughters, Margaret (Jeff) Bates of Fayetteville, Arizona, Diane (Michael) Morey of Dimondale, Elizabeth (David) Mansfield of Dewitt, and Marilyn Jorgensen of Toledo, Ohio; a son, John (Becky) Colombo of Charlotte; 6 grandchildren, Sara, Amber, and Loma Jean (Trixie) Colombo, Gregory and Steven Morey, and Jeffrey Bates; a brother, Olin (Arvilla) Hinesley of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and a sister, Robbie Cassell of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amy.
Services were Dec. 21 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Charlotte, with the Father Matthew Fedewa officiating. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
